04/03/2009: The Alliance Review

Great Treasure Hunt in Alliance to buy gold, other valuables...

By GAYLE AGNEW

Alliance area residents have a chance to turn their unwanted gold jewelry and other treasures into cash this week.

Representatives from The Great Treasure Hunt will be on hand to appraise and purchase items through Saturday at the Alliance Holiday Inn Express on West State Street.

Justin Kirkus, lead buyer and appraiser, said approximately 60 people had showed up by Thursday morning and the company had purchased about $5,000 worth of merchandise, mostly gold jewelry.

Among the more unusual items offered for sale to the company over the years include a Stan Musial baseball jersey (Musial played for St. Louis from the 1940s to 1960s) and items from professional baseball player Ty Cobb’s estate. “We bought his (Cobb’s) personal scrapbook, signed letters and his golf clubs,” Kirkus said. “Items from the James Dean estate were purchased from the family.”

Each day, the company’s representatives send the purchases they make back to its home office in Kernersville, N.C, via Federal Express.

“The biggest deal we’ve bought in Ohio was more than $200,000 worth of baseball cards,” Kirkus said.

Value of the items offered for sale is determined using a computer database that lists current sources, reference books and direct phone contact with appraisers, if needed, Kirkus said.

The company mostly buys scrap jewelry, where the value is determined by the weight of the gold or precious metal. But Kirkus said they also purchase coins minted prior to 1964. One of the eye-catchers were on the shirt Kirkus was wearing — a pair of cuff links that contained 1944 mercury dimes.

Vintage guitars, comic books and high-end watches such as Rolex, Breitling and Movado are also on the purchase list for The Great Treasure Hunt, along with diamond solitaire rings, three-quarters of a carat and up. In addition, sterling silver items such as trophies, full flatware sets and single flatware items, water pitchers, centerpieces and Mexican silver are on the “buy” list.

The company has been in business for 25 years and this is their first visit to Alliance, Kirkus noted.

Next week, beginning Tuesday from 3 to 9 p.m. The Great Treasure Hunt will be in North Canton at the Courtyard Marriott, 4375 Metro Circle. Hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday and Friday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.